Stampin' Up!, a Sydney direct-sales crafting company, is encouraging Aussies to get involved in its Bushfire Appeal campaign to help victims of the Victoria bushfires.

From 12 February until 31 March 2009, Stampin' Up! will donate half of the retail value of sales from a select group of ten stamp sets to the Australian Red Cross to assist in the relief effort.

To date, Stampin' Up! independent consultants [demonstrators,] many of whom have also donated their sales commissions, have raised over $31,000 for the cause.

Stampin' Up!'s demonstrators throughout Australia and New Zealand are also donating their time and talents to serve those affected by the disaster. In addition to donating cash, the demonstrators are holding crafting workshops specifically to create handmade cards to donate to victims staying in tent camps so they can communicate with friends and relatives.

Claire Daly, a Victorian demonstrator says, " I think we all wanted to do something. One of the women in my downline works for the local member of parliament in Healesville. Apparently over 180 of the people who have died are in her constituent, so our team are making cards for her to send to the families. It's heartwarming to see such a great compassionate response among demonstrators and Australians in general."

"The response from our demonstrators has been outstanding," says Australian general manager, Aaron Scott. "The idea to hold stamping events and workshops originated when one of our demonstrators heard a comment from a woman who lost her home saying that she didn't even have a birthday card to give her son. It's inspiring to see people reaching out this way."